The start of a new term has been celebrated for people embarking or continuing their mission and ministry training with the Diocese of Winchester.
45 people attended the day at Old Alresford Place, including those training for ordination, licensed lay ministry and the Bishop’s Permission to Preach. Some were at the beginning of their training, while others were several years into studies for their different callings and ministries. They joined together from across the Diocese of Winchester from benefices from Dorset to North Hampshire.
The day began with a special service that was led by Bishop Rhiannon.
She said, “It is so exciting to be in this room with so many people just brimming full of faith, with so much hope and excitement as they are starting their courses. We’ve got people here doing the Bishop’s Permission to Preach course, doing licensed lay ministry and some ordinands and they’re all mixing and there’s such a buzz in the place. It feels like God is very much here and there are exciting times ahead.”
Amy Roche, Head of Mission and Ministry, added, “Today is all about the start of a new journey for so many people who are embarking on the courageous steps of training for a new ministry. One of the treasures is that they are among others who have been walking the journey a little bit longer, either for the same or for different ministries. It’s been great to see the support that is felt so strongly from the cohorts of people and the mutual learning, which happens by being alongside others. That’s so enriching and it becomes such a joy.”
The day provided a chance to meet up with other people who are on the same training pathway, who will play a vital role over the months ahead by sharing support and encouragement with one another.
Hannah Hoskin from Christchurch Priory is in her second year LLM training with the Diocese of Winchester and Sarum College. She said, “Last year everything was new and stressful, but this year I know other people and it’s nice because I can see people who are joining on their first year and I can encourage them and advise them and understand their fears and help them. It’s good to be with the people that you’re studying with and have that relationship, because a lot of study is on your own and having support from other people means a lot, knowing that you’re not on your own, and there are people you can turn to and talk to. So, these days when we get together are important and special.”
Andy Spence is a third year ordinand in the parish of Sherbornes with Pamber. He said, “Today is a reset. We’ve had the summer off and now I’ve got to get back into reading and start to be disciplined about studying. It’s about forgetting the holiday and beginning a new academic year.”
The service also included a time to break into small groups, to share excitement, hopes, and uncertainties for the year ahead and to spend time praying for one another.
Tracey Pyne has waiting 5 years to start her training as an LLM, after it was delayed because of the Covid pandemic and family challenges. She said, “I’m really looking forward to it because I’ve felt for a very long time that God has been calling me to more. I’m going to start a new chapter and a really big chapter. I think this first term for me at Sarum is going to be a real eye opener and a real encouragement that I’ve listened to what God has been calling me to and I have taken those first difficult steps.”
Marinus Reynolds-Viljoen from St Swithun’s Headbourne Worthy is starting the Bishop’s Permission to Preach course. He added, “I’m really excited about the upcoming learning and exploration and broadening of horizons and seeing how that’s going to change my walk with Christ. It’s something that’s been brewing for 25 years and I’ve tried every which way to not get involved with preaching, but at the same time, after taking the step, I have felt like a floodgate of blessings have been opened and I know it’s the right thing to do. Today I feel particularly encouraged. I think what makes it even more poignant is the message that we are here to not just encourage our congregation, but each other as a preaching community. I’m looking forward to that support of other people who are engaging in a study of the Bible.”
Everyone was also given a leaf to write words which summed up how they were feeling and what they wanted to bring to God. While music played, these were hung on a prayer tree.
Amy Roche added, “I was able to look at the faces of everybody and see the sense of excitement and love of being here and that’s still in the eyes of people who are going back for their third, fourth, and for somebody their fifth year. There is something that is so exciting that doesn’t fade, it doesn’t go away. People want to continue with that learning and we’re all on the journey together. For us, as people who participate in either looking after the programmes or as tutors, we feel the same. We learn a lot from one another as a community as well and I think that also has been enriching.
“It’s not just about the things we are called to do. The whole of this learning community is saying that it’s about remaining very deeply in the source that is Jesus.”
